Reflecting today's technology, the war instantly spread into cyberspace. Since the war's first day, the leading information and state agency Web sites in Russia and Georgia became the targets of massive hacking attacks.

Russian state-owned RIA Novosti's Web site was affected by cyberattacks resulting in Web site loading problems and network function issues for several days.

To understand these attacks, one must remember the significance of information in today's world. By manipulating information, whether credible or not, it is possible to indoctrinate readers into different ideas about events to evoke in them a desired point of view. Hacking a Web site could destroy or fully block communication, which potentially could damage a rival's success in a battle.

However, hacking into the Web sites of civilian, non-military news agencies is only part of a new strategic approach known as "cyberwar," or actions aimed at an opponent's digital networks and Web sites. Cyberspace, which is an integral part of a modern nation's infrastructure, is a vulnerable area where attacks are aimed not so much at hardware but the information it contains. The attackers can be located safely thousands of miles from the assault target. Not only can they destroy information, but possibly steal it to obtain classified data in a way one could not imagine back in the "paper days."

The first cyberwars started in the mid-1980s. The most widely known case is that of Mathias Speer, a German programmer working for East Germany's intelligence services who managed to damage U.S. security in 1986-1987 by attacking computers and stealing a large amount of classified information from the U.S. government-owned military network.

The importance of cybersecurity is widely understood. Special centers for network hacker protection have been developed at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; specialized departments within security services have been established in Russia, as well as centers around the world, including those involved in developing weapons able to knock out electronic equipment, such as electromagnetic bombs.

Many consider cyberwars more humane than military operations. After all, hacking into a network does not kill anyone, and an electromagnetic shock wave radiator shell can kill a person only in a direct hit. However, this is a false impression. Economic and transportation paralysis in a large country can potentially lead to as many victims as a military conflict, especially where possible responses can involve the destructive power of nuclear weapons.

(Ilya Kramnik is a military commentator for the RIA Novosti news agency. This article is reprinted by permission of RIA Novosti. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.)

(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)

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